Shock absorber



March 13, 1928. 1,662,188

' E. HELMUS ET AL SHOCKl ABSORBER F'led Ma 16, 1924 2 SheetsfShee.. 1

2 Pap m//f/,fmg 3 755 207 :l 55mg fw/s a 5am/fr March 13, 1928. 1,662,188

E. HELMUS ET AL SHOCK ABSORBER Filed May 16, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD HELMUS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ANI) 'LEWIS C. BURNET, OF GLEN RIDGE,

NEW JERSEY.

YSHOCK ABSORBER. l

implication and May 16,

This invention relates to shock absorbers for automobiles and other vehicles and more especially to shock absorbers of the friction disk type wherein the compression and rebound movements of the vehicle springs are checked by the friction movement of one or more frictional contacting surfaces.

It is an object Vof the invention to provide a shock absorber of inexpensive construction which is universally adaptable to all makes of automobiles and can be applied in any position on the automobile. j n

Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorber of long life which can be easily adjusted to take up wear on the moving parts thereof and which will not develop squeaks and rattles in service.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shock absorber which will permit side thrusts of the vehicle body relative to the running gear without straining or breaking the shock absorber connections.

Various other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred form of embodiment of the invention.

Figure l is a side view of the shock absorber in operative position with parts broken away to show the interior construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional View approximately on the line 2-2 ofFigure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on line y3*-3' of Fi ure l;

igure 4 is a part` sectional view of a modifiedform of connecting member. e

Figure 5 isa sectional view of'a modiied form ofconnection between the brake arm andthe running gear of the vehicle.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the joint between the lower connection member and the arms.

Figure 7 is an end view ofthe 'shock absorber when mounted out of alignment with the lower connection.V

Figure S is a side view ofjone ofthe cup plates.

absorber comprises a bracket member l to be connected to the frame of the vehicle, a circularhousing 2 containingthe frictional snubbing members, a brake arm 3" project :ing outward from the. housing, connectingl In the embodiment illustrated the shocky 1924. Serial No. 713,681.

bracket' l has a hexagonal opening lb therein through which the bolt 9 for supporting the snubbing members extends. The bolt 9 is kprovided with a hexagonal portion 9a which tits within the opening lb of the bracket member and supports the cap plate 10v and friction disk 11 ofthe snubber, the circular portion 9b of the bolt 9 supports the friction plate 12, to which the arm 3 is integrally connected with its inner face contactingwith the disk 11 andthe outer surface'contacting with a diskllfL held nonrotatably on the bolt 9 by thecap platelOa'whichts upon the portionV 9of the bolt.

The disks 11 and llnare pressedy against" the sides of the plate -l2 by a. coil spring 13v compressedbetween the cap plates 10b and `10 also fittedy upon the port-ion 9c ofthe bolt 9, and the entire assembly is secured uponthe bolt by the nut 141 VThe pressure ofthe spring 13` is suiiicient to keep the disks 11 and 11' vin firm' frictionalcontact with the plate l2-so aste Vfrictionally resist movement ofthe arm4 3 and plate 12 iin either direction and thereby check the compression or rebound of the-vehicle springs. The arm 3 projects out through an opening 2a in the housing 2 and a bolt 2b securesvthev housing totheedge of the plate l2. The disks 11 and l1a are preferably formed of wood, cork or othermaterial which has a'high frictional `resistance, and arey preferably impregnated with oil or the like to prevent squeakingwhen the plate 12 is turned relative to the disks.

As the ,armf andhousing 2'may. be turned about the bolt;9 and the frictional resistance between the disks ll'a'ndlla and/plate12 is the same in all`positions,.itwill bereadily apparent thatfthe arm- 3 may be turned so as to project eithertothe fronty or. rear from` the bracket lrwhen mounted ontlie automobile- Without reducing the efficiencyy of.' the shrock absorber in any way, thereby per* mitting use of ther shock absorber. on either front `or rear springs at side'foffthe.,

vehicle. The connecting plates l and clamping means i' are connected to each other and to the arm 3 by universal joints 5 and 6 so that the.;7 may be readily adjusted to the desired connecting or clamping position in whatever direction the arm 3 is turned.

'1`he end of the arm i) has connected therewith a stud i5 with a hollow portion 15"- in the end thereof and an enlargement or collar 15" thereon. il ceiitrally bored voke member lt rotatablxv litted on the end lo"L of the stud and retained thereon b v the holt 1T and washer 171. 'io increase the resistance to relative movement between and prevent rattling ol' the parts the yoke 1t) and stud 15 a bushing lo ot oil impregnated cork or wood may be provided and it desired the hollow portion 1.3 ot the stud may be packed with oil or greac to hibricate the bushing,

From the ends ot the `voke member iti a pair of studs to" project outward and on these studs are piroted ont` end ot the connecting platesv i. At cach side olf the plates 1: a washer 1S or 1S ol' iriction material Such as oil treated Wood or cork is pressed into firm contact with the plates i. Cap plates 19 with an opening lillx corrcspoinling to the flattened side 1Gc ot' the studs 16 hohl f the washers` 1S nonrotatably on the studs 1Gb and nuts Qt) are screwed upon the studs to secure the desired pressure between the washer 1S and 1S and the plates i. A bushing 1l permits rotation ot the plates 1 on the studs 1Gb without injury to the threads ot the studs.

Between the lower end of the connectingr plates t a similar yoke 1G is located and through the centra bore of the yoke 1(5 a bolt 21 extends to the axle or other portion o1 the running gear to be connected thereto by means of the clamping members T which are slidable on the bolt 21 between the col lar 21 and nut 2lb to grip or release the axle member 7*.

The hollow portion of the bolt Q1 passes through the bore of the yoke 1G and is se cured therein by the collar 21 and nut 21. Holes 19d through the walls oi the hollow portion ot' the bolt permit grease to pass out to lubricate the bore ot the yoke 1G. The cap plates 19 at each side ot the washers 18 and 18X are nonrotatably mounted on the studs 16".

Figure 4 shows a modified torni of construction for the voke 1G. In this embodiment the ends oit the body portion are tapered at 16d and a tapered washer 15Sb is inserted between the tapered portions 16'1 and the plates 4, pins te extending trom the plates t into the washers 18b so that the washers turn with the plates 4 and rnb against the portions 1Gb.

In the modification shown in Figure 5 a bolt 22 extends through the ends of thev platen 1 and through the opening in the eve. bolt 21, riction washers ln' are coii|pic.-;sial between the plate` l and the c rebolt to rcsist; unnecessary movement and provide lu brication between the parti-5. The holt :2" is connected to turn with the plate i by the pins 22 which extend into holesY in one of tht` connecting plate', and ay nut 22 retains the assembly upon the bolt (in the end ot the eve bolt 2l an angular connecting member 255 pivotcd fo as to permit the bolt il to bc connected to portions olI the vehicle at the side oiA the bolt 1;'1. It friction washer in is retained in a depresion 2S' in the collar liti" oiA the eye holt il and a second triction washer 155" is forced against the other side otl the connecting member iii bj.' means oi' iinl cap plate 1.() and nut 23 to prevent iinntccs' sari' turning ot the connection ifi) on the c veholt. 1t is to he noted that in thisy moditication the shan "'t and c vc 's oi the holt n holt 111 are at right angles lo mich other i-,o as to permit rotation oi" thc pai'ti in two planes to proridc the ncccsrary nnivcrwti movement.

The i'i'iction washers 1S, le", ctc., of oil impregnated wood, cork or the like serve two purposes in the shock absorber, tiret, h); their tirm Atric-tional contact with the mov ing parti; the); prevent rattling which un aroid-,iblbv develops when there is oni),1 metal to metal contact in structures ot this; type. and, second, the oil, iini'ircgnaiion ol the washers insures sutlicicnt continual lubrication to prevent squeakiug when thi.l parts are turned.

Figure T shows how the universal joints and (j permit the shock absorber to be at tat-hed to parts of the automobile which need not be in alignment.

1t will be tniderstood ot' course that the universal joint at the lower end ol' the connecting plates l may be omitted if desired and the plates connected to the running gear directly or b v means ot an ordinary pivoted connection without deiiartingy :troni the spirit ot our invention.

Il' desired the arm 3 could be connected to the shock absorber proper so as to permit rotation ot' the arm in a plane perpendicular thereto while giving the desired movement and lnakin;r action in the plane parallel to the arm. Under this arrangement the side thrusts would be permitted by the connec tion between the brake arm and the shock absorber, and one of the universal joints could be omitted.

In compliance with the patent Statutes we have described a preferred enibodiincnt of our invention in detail however, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes can be made within the spirit ot the invention without departing trom the scope ot the appended claims.

'Ill

We claim:

l. In a shock absorber, a shock absorbing means a bracket for securing the shock absorbing means to the chassisof the vehicle, an arm extending outward from the shock absorbing means adapted to be rotated through an angle of 360 degrees, and means for securing the arm to the running gear of the vehicle including a universal joint, said universal joint including mutually perpendicular pivots, and friction washers of a perpendicular pivots, and friction members of a fibrous material interposed between the relatively moving parts.

3. In a shock absorber, a reversible bracket adapted to be secured to the frame of the automobile, a shock absorber supported thereby, an arm adapted for complete ro-v tation projecting out from the shock absorber, means for connecting the arm to the running gear of the vehicle, a universal joint between the connecting means and the arm and a universal joint between the connecting means and the running gear, each of said universal joints comprising mutually perpendicular pivots, and friction members of a librous material interposed between relatively moving parts.

4. In a shock absorber, an offset bracket adapted to be secured to the frame of the automobile, a shock absorber supported thereby, an arm projecting out from the i shock absorber and adapted to be turned to either side yof the shock absorber, means for connecting the arm to the running gear of the vehicle, a universal joint` between the connecting means and the arm, a universal joint between the connecting means and the running cgear, both universal joints comprising mutually perpendicular pivots whereby the shock absorber may be applied to any position on the vehicle, and nonme-4 tallic packing between the movable portions .of the universal joints to prevent rattling and squeaking. Y

5. The combination ina friction disc absorber of a bracket for supporting the shock absorber, an rarm projecting out from the shock absorber adapted for 360 degree angular movement, means Vfor connecting the arm to the running gear of the vehicle, and a universal joint between the arm and the connecting means comprising a yoke pivoted on the arm, and pivotally supporting the connecting means from the ends of the yoke.

6. The combination in a shock absorber of abracket for' supporting the shock absorber, an arm projecting out from the yshock absorber, a stud on the end of the arm hollowed out and containing radial lubricant channels, means for connecting the arm to the running gear of the vehicle comprising a connecting'V plate, a universaljoint between the connecting plate and the projecting arm, an axle bracket and a second universal joint between the connecting plate and the axle bracket, the aXle bracket including a bolt having a hollowed head and radial lubricant grooves projecting therefrom.

In testimony whereof we have axed our4 signatures to this specification.

EDWARD HELMUS.

LEWIS C. BURNET. 

